Effective Wednesday, October 15, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) will suspend all fines issued by its Compliance Team on roads across the country. This was contained in a press statement issued by the Authority on October 14.

The Authority’s decision to temporarily halt the exercise follows public feedback on how the fines were being enforced, as well as further internal consultations.

According to the DVLA, “This suspension relates specifically to the fees and charges that were being enforced by the Compliance Team. It does not suspend the legal requirements for drivers and vehicles to operate on Ghana’s roads.”

Meanwhile, the Authority has urged all drivers and vehicle owners to continue adhering to road safety laws and regulations despite the suspension.

In August, the Authority announced a new vehicle number plate system aimed at tackling smuggling and preventing the registration of vehicles that evade import duties. This move comes in response to the rising cases of car smuggling into West Africa, including Ghana.

On August 26, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) Head of Legal and Prosecutions, Leo Antony Siamah, revealed during a media engagement that 100 stolen luxury vehicles shipped into Ghana through dubious means had been recovered.

Mr. Siamah cautioned the public to exercise extreme vigilance when purchasing vehicles, particularly high-end ones, to avoid becoming unwitting accomplices in criminal activities.

He further disclosed that the anti-graft agency is currently investigating about 300 additional cases of suspected stolen vehicles in collaboration with Interpol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Earlier in May 2025, an INTERPOL-led operation codenamed “Safe Wheels” dismantled a major vehicle trafficking network in West Africa. The exercise detected about 150 stolen vehicles and seized over 75 across 12 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria.

The two-week operation also launched 18 new investigations and exposed two organized crime syndicates. Most of the stolen vehicles were trafficked from Canada, with others originating from France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

In response, DVLA Chief Executive Officer Julius Neequaye Kotey, in a statement shared on Facebook on Monday, August 25, 2025, announced that the new plates will be fitted with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and linked directly to a central database.

This innovation, he explained, will make it impossible to register “Togo cars” or vehicles smuggled into the country without proper documentation.“The new system will ensure that every vehicle can be authenticated against our database. This way, smuggled cars or those that have avoided the payment of duties cannot slip through the cracks,” he explained.

He emphasized that the new number plate system is designed not only to ensure compliance but also to enhance road safety. “The introduction of a new number plate system is a significant step forward for vehicle regulation and security. The new plates will be equipped with RFID technology and other features to modernize vehicle management and improve road safety,” he said.

According to the DVLA, the new plates will also facilitate toll payment in the future, as the embedded chip will allow vehicles to make automatic, cashless payments at toll points. Instead of showing the year of registration, the plates will display a regional code to simplify the identification of a vehicle’s origin. Other security features include a reflective surface to improve visibility at night and in bad weather conditions.

Mr. Kotey added that although the nationwide rollout is expected in 2026, work is still ongoing to finalize the design and ensure the plates meet both local and international security standards. “This is about more than just plates — it is about creating a secure, transparent, and modern vehicle management system that benefits both motorists and the general public,” he added.

Beyond the new plates, the DVLA has also revealed that it will soon roll out an e-license as part of its broader digital transformation agenda to modernize service delivery and improve convenience for Ghanaian drivers.

This was disclosed by Mr. Kotey on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, during the launch of the DVLA Lorry Terminal Project at Circle. He said: “The launch of the Lorry Terminal Project aims to bring DVLA services closer to drivers. The services provided are the acquisition of a driver’s license, renewal of a license, replacement of missing and expired licenses, and conversion of a foreign driver’s license.”

According to him, the DVLA has significantly improved its operations by adopting digital solutions in line with global technological trends. He noted that the introduction of the e-license will enable drivers to prove their eligibility to drive without necessarily carrying their hardcopy license.

“Most of us don’t carry our licenses with us, and it shouldn’t be the case that the police or any other party takes advantage of that. If I don’t have my license with me and I am a driver, I’m still a driver. I should have an app that allows me to identify myself as a legitimate driver on the street, and that’s what the e-license is about.”

He clarified that the e-license will not replace the traditional one but will serve as a complement. “It is not here to replace the physical license but rather to provide an additional option to access your license on your Android or iPhone.”

Meanwhile, the DVLA has cautioned the public against the misuse of Defective Vehicle (DV) plates. Shedding light on their proper usage, Mr. Kotey explained that DV plates are exclusively designated for car dealers and are only valid when a car has not yet been certified as roadworthy.

“Only car dealers are supposed to use DV plates. It stands for ‘Defective Vehicle’ because the vehicle hasn’t yet been inspected by us for roadworthiness. That’s why we call it a DV plate. It’s not meant for any other person, only for dealers when they’re working on the vehicle,” the DVLA CEO stated.

He further explained that, in partnership with the State Insurance Company (SIC), a two-week insurance cover is provided for cars at the ports. These vehicles are then given a DP sticker, after which they must be registered.

“SIC is providing two weeks of insurance cover. After that, you must register your car because DV plates are not supposed to be used by ordinary citizens,” he clarified.

The use of DV and DP plates is governed by the Road Traffic Act 683/04, as amended by Act 761/08, and the Road Traffic Regulations 2012, L.I. 2180.

Speaking on the persistent presence of "goro boys", unofficial middlemen who often pose as helpers at DVLA offices, Mr. Kotey acknowledged that they have long been part of the Authority’s environment.

These individuals typically offer assistance with vehicle registration, licensing, and other administrative processes for a fee, despite not being officially employed by the DVLA.

He noted that the operations of "goro boys" have spanned decades, from the era of the late Jerry John Rawlings to the present Mahama-led administration, forming an informal but persistent part of the Authority’s ecosystem.